
AN 



ESSAY ON GUANO. 



BY 



I. E. TESCHEMACHER. 




./ 




Class. 
Book. 



S>6^? 



Gopyiightl^^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



J ^ v 4 i^' 



ESSAY ON GUANO; 



DESCRIBING 



ITS PROPERTIES 



THE BEST METHODS OE ITS APPLICATION IN 
AGIIICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE; 



THE VALUE OF IMPORTATIONS FROM DIFFERENT 
LOCALITIES ; 

FOUNDED ON ACTUAL ANALYSES, 

AND ON PERSONAL EXPERIMENTS UPON NUMEROUS KINDS OF 

TREES, VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, AND INSECTS, 

IN THIS CLIMATE. 



iK. 



By^l^ E. TESCHEMACHER, 

,A 11 

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



BOSTON: 

A. D. PHELPS, 124 AVASHINGTON STREET. 

NEW YORK: 
SAXTON & HUNTINGTON, 295 BROADWAY. 

1845. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1845, by 

I. E. Teschemacher, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of tlie District of 
Massachusetts. 




STEREOTYPED AT THE 
BOSTON TVPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. 



O 



O 



d''> 



PEEFACE. 



Manure is the staff, the chief dependence, of the farmer. The 
first action in the examination of a farm should be to observe the 
system of the farmer's management of his manure; from this alone 
a pretty good idea of the management of the rest of his affairs may 
be gathered. Without a proper understanding on this subject, it is 
impossible for b.im to excel in his cattle or his crops. Knowledge 
on the matter of manure is therefore of the greatest importance to 
him, and ignorance of ijt is what he ought to be most ashamed of. 
A person may travel thirty or forty miles from Boston, in some direc- 
tions, and not find one fiftieth part of the land on each side of the 
road well cultivated ; while, in other parts, he would find acres from 
which is gathered annually from two to six hundred dollars of 
produce. Tliis difference chiefly arises from application of the arti- 
cle of manure, the deficiency of which is probably the chief cause 
of the sterility in question. 

It certainly appears rather singidar that so much prejudice should 
be entertained against a manure like gunno, backed as its efficacy 
has been by centuries of experience in South America, and by an 
immensely increasing consum.ption in Eng-land, where the utmost 
attention is of necessity paid to increase the produce of the land. 

It is true, the greatest objections have been made by those who 
have never tried it. One is afraid the production of luxuriant 
crops every year will exhaust his land ; as if it were desirable to 
have diminutive crops, and let tlie virtue remain in the soil. 
Another will have it that tliis country is too hot, and has not the 



damp advantages of England ; forgetting that South America is 
hotter still. A third, having applied an exorbitant quantity, against 
every instruction given, and thereby killed his crop, is unwilling to 
try again with a more economical distribution of it. 

I have now experimented with this article for three years, and 
the number of my experiments have been nearly two hundred. 
With the exception of those on a few exotic plants of peculiar 
constitution, and also of those where I have pushed the application 
purposely to excess, in order to test its power, few of these exper- 
iments have failed. This pamphlet will therefore contain chiefly 
the results of my own experience ; and, with those plants on which 
I have not tried the effect, I shall give my views of the best mode 
of applying this manure. And here I beg to observe that, having 
from my youth been practically acquainted with the operations and 
refinements of horticulture, and knowing well that experiments on 
this subject are liable to error when confided to unpractised hands, 
I have myself performed every part of nearly all the experiments, 
including the whole cultivation, which I give as my own, and have 
carefiilly watched and noted the various appearances they have 
offered at different periods of the applications. 

During many months employed in chemical research on this sub- 
ject, I have analyzed thirty or forty specimens from various locali- 
ties. I am not at all surprised, therefore, at the very erroneous views 
taken of this manure by many professed chemists; so complex and 
varied is its constitution and the form of its ingredients ; so nu- 
merous arc the transformations they undergo. The analysis by 
exposure to heat gives only a true idea of the quantity of potash 
and soda, of the salts of lime, and magnesia ; but of the most 
important ingredients, by this method, no correct notion can be 
formed. The conversion of the oxalates and the animal matter into 
their gaseous constituents, and the action thereof during this opera- 
tion, entirely mask and confound the other substances ; and, unless 
the drying, to ascertain the moisture, be very carefully conducted, 
part of the ammonia escapes, and is calculated as moisture. With 
all the efforts to obtain a true estimate of the ammonia, unless the 



experiment be very atteatively managed, the Immic acid, «SiC., will 
still obstinately retain a portion. Many other difficult points re- 
main, such as the detection of urea and uric acid, and the various 
combinations of the ingredients. The investigation of these is cal- 
culated to call forth all the resources and energy of the chemist; 
and, although the decision of many of them is not essential to the 
agriculturist, they are of high interest to the man of science. In 
my later investigations, I have received much valuable assistance 
from Richard Soule, Jr., formerly pupil of Dr. C. T. Jackson. 

Following the example of those whom I consider the best analysts, 
I have endeavored, in the analyses made for agricultural purposes, 
not to make too many subdivisions, particularly when the quantity 
of an ingredient is small ; they only perplex those whose object is 
practical utility. 

The classification according to the agricultural importance is 
more easily understood, and bears a more true relation to the 
market value than any other, and, for all purposes of seller, buyer, 
and user, is therefore the best. 

It has been thought that the supply of this article will soon be 
exhausted. That it will be exhausted I have but little doubt. If, 
however, the reports of travellers can be credited, — and there is 
no reason why they should not, — deposits are to be found of two 
hundred to three hundred feet in depth, extending many leagues 
along the coast of Peru. Such a mass will bear several years' 
consumption. 

If a farmer should use guano for several successive years, he 
might store up his annual collection of manure, which, with proper 
covering and care, would retain its virtues just as guano does, and 
become a valuable capital for him to draw upon when the scarcity 
of guano rendered the price too high for economical use. And, at 
all events, the discussions to which its powers and action have 
given rise have rendered services to agriculture which can never 
be too highly valued. 

In conclusion, I have been actuated, in my investigations of this 
manure, in my earnest endeavors to promote its introduction into 
1* 



6 

this country, and in this present attempt to disseminate informa- 
tion on the best methods of applying it, simply by the hope of 
doincr some service in my generation ; and it will be a source of 
much gratification to me if I can reflect that I have in any way 
promoted the progress of that most useful, that most honorable, 
employment of man — agriculture. 



GUANO. 



This substance, which has been used in South America as 
a manure for many centuries, retains there its Peruvian appel- 
lation of huano. The Spaniards, not having an aspirate h in 
their language, replaced it by a g, the nearest sound to a gut- 
tural aspiration their alphabet possesses. Hence guano, pro- 
nounced by a Spaniard, is, in sound, more like the Peruvian 
huano than any thing else, and quite difierent from our guano, 
with a hard g. It is unquestionably the dung of sea-birds, 
which have for ages used the spots where it is deposited as 
places of resort during incubation. 

The soil to which it is applied in Soutii America, principally 
for the growth of maize, is of a saiuly, sterile nature, contain- 
ing but little organic mixture. Each crop has usually three 
applications of guano ; the first, in small quantity, at the time of 
sowing the seed ; the second, a larger application, when the 
plant is less than half grown ; and the third, just previous to 
the commencement of ripening the seed. After each applica- 
tion, the land is irrigated — that is, watered. From this latter 
circumstance, it will be seen that the first application is of the 
nature of a steep in guano liquor, which, no doubt, accelerates 
the germination of the seed, while the dilution of the guano 
prevents the embryo from being injured by the action of the 
manure, and also causes the commencement of its decomposi- 



8 

tion, rendering it immediately available to the growth of the 
young plant. The volatile ammoniacal salts of the first appli- 
cation being exhausted, the second becomes necessary for the 
increased roots forming ; and this, no doubt, enters largely into 
the substance of the plant, promoting in every way its growth, 
luxuriance, and production of seed. Of the benefit of the 
third application, I confess I am unable to judge ; never having 
tried it, because I was unable to see beforehand the use of it. 
Nevertheless, I think that the common practice of a people 
who have used guano for centuries should not be slightly re- 
jected without experiment, and it certainly shall be tried. 

It would be a folly, at the present moment, to doubt tlie 
immense value of this powerful manure, when so many have 
witnessed the surprising effects it has produced ; but it is cer- 
tain that fraudulent adulterations, as well as improper applica- 
tions of it, have produced failures in many cases. To those, 
however, who may yet be inclined to skepticism on the subject, 
it may be well to observe, that a single well-conducted and 
faithful application of guano, which has been crowned with 
success, — and there are hundreds on record, beyond all dis- 
pute, — must completely prove its beneficial effect ; while a 
hundred failures can only prove error in its application, or fraud 
in the article. But it is fortunate for agriculture, that, within 
the last seven or eight years, science has taken up so vigorously 
the investigation of the laws of vegetable life, and, independent 
of any considerations on guano, has arrived at conclusions 
which enable it to prove and exhibit, in the clearest manner, 
the causes and reasons for this valuable action on plants, thus 
not only placing it beyond the region of doubt, but also afford- 
ing valuable hints respecting the methods of the application to 
the various members of the vegetable kingdom. It is to these 
methods of application that I shall chiefly devote this pamphlet. 



But I wish, in order to be better understood, first to enter into 
the discussion of the aptitude of its ingredients to the growth of 
vegetables, as well as of the different qualities of this manure 
brought from different localities, holding all knowledge on this 
interesting subject too valuable to be kept at home. It is, like 
the manure itself, the more beneficial the more it is spread 
abroad. 

We are told truly, that the volatile parts of vegetation con- 
sist of 

Carbon, obtained by plants chiefly from the soil and 
atmosphere ; 

Oxygen, ^ obtained by plants chiefly from water, 

Hydrogen, 5 carbonic acid, &c. ; 

Nitrogen, obtained by plants chiefly from manure, 
and also from rain and snow ; 
besides which, they contain fixed or non-volatile inorganic in- 
gredients, chiefly 

Silicium, in combination with oxygen, called silica, 
or sand ; 

Lime, in combination with phosphoric and other 
acids ; 

Potash and soda, in combination with acids ; 

Magnesia, in combination with acids ; 
and various oxides of metals, the presence of which, however, 
is not very important, as tiicy exist in exceedingly small 
quantity. 

Now, without going any further into scientific discussions, 
which are not so interesting to the practical agriculturist at 
present as I trust they will be some years hence, it is enough 
to prove that all these ingredients, with the exception of the 
metallic oxides, exist in guano. 



10 

The ingredients of guano are as follows : — 

Ammo5iia, (formed of nitrogen and hydrogen,) com- 
bined with carbonic, oxalic, phosphoric, and other 
acids. 
Lime, combined with phosphoric, oxalic, and other 

acids. 
Potash and soda, combined with muriatic and sul- 
phuric acids. 
Magnesia, combined with phosphoric and other 

acids. 
Animal organic matter, containing carbon, and also 
nitrogen. 
According to the latest and most accurate analyses of plants, 
maize, or Indian corn, contains, in the ashes of its seeds, 

Phosphoric acid, about 50 per cent. 

Potash and soda, .... " 30 " " 

Magnesia, " 17 " " 

Lime, " li " " 

Silica, " 1 a « 

The kind of corn is not named in this analysis. 
Wheat ashes contain, 

Phosphoric acid, 46 to 50 per cent. 

Potash and soda, . . . . 34 to 37 " " 

Magnesia, 9 to 16 " " 

Lime, 2 to 4 " " 

Silica, ^ to 1^ " " 

with a little peroxide of iron and sulphuric acid. 

Tiie diHerence exhibited here in the quantities of the in- 
gredients arises, probably, from the difference of soil in which 
the analyzed seeds were sown. 

A most interesting question to be hereafter decided by 



n 

chemists and agriculturists is, To a preponderance in which 

of these ingredients docs grain owe its most valuable and 

nutritious qualities, as well as Jlavor ? 
Rye ashes contain, 

Phosphoric acid, 47 to 52 per cent. 

Potash and soda, .... 30 '•' 37 " " 

Magnesia, 10 " 10^- '•' " 

Lime, 3 '' 7 " " 

Silica, I '« A '■- u 

with a little peroxide of iron and sulphuric acid. 
Barley ashes contain, 

Phosphoric acid, about 41 per cent. 

Potash and soda, .... " 20^- " " 

Magnesia, '' 10 " " 

Lime, . " 3i " " 

Peroxide of iron, .... " 2 " " 
Silica, " 22 " " 

The quantity of silica is remarkable. 
Buckwheat ashes contain, 

Phosphoric acid, about 50 per cent. 

Potash and soda, . . . '. " 29 " " 

Lime, " 7 " " 

Magnesia, " lOi " " 

Sulphuric, " 2 " " 

and a little peroxide of iron and silica. 
Turnip-seed ashes contain, 

Phosphoric acid, about 42 per cent. 

Potash and soda, .... " 2Gi " " 

Lime, " 14^ "' " 

Magnesia, " 12 " " 

Oxide of iron, '' 3 '^ " 

Silica, « 1^ « « 



12 

Silver fir ashes of seed contain, 

Phosphoric acid, about 40 per cent. 

Potash and soda, .... "241 " " 

Lime, " li " " 

Magnesia, " 17 " " 

Sulphuric acid, " 12 " " 

with some peroxide of iron and silica. 

I have given this analysis, from the curious fact that the 
pollen of many of the fir tribe, clouds of which may be seen 
in the forests at the proper season, contains a large proportion 
of phosphate of lime. This must be extracted from the disin- 
tegrated rocks on which the pine often grows — a circumstance 
which led me to judge that, as guano contained much phos- 
phate of lime, it would be well adapted to promote the luxu- 
riant growth of this tree ; and my experiments on young trees 
fully confirm this surmise. 
Ashes of peas contain. 

Phosphoric acid, . . . . 31 to 34 per cent. 

Potash and soda. 

Lime, .... 

Magnesia, 

Sulphuric acid, 

Chlorine, or chlor. sodium, 
with small quantities of silica and peroxide of iron. 

These, it will be seen, are the fixed non-volatile ingre- 
dients of plants. All of them are found as constituents of 
guano, which contains, besides ammonia, or nitrogen, the only 
volatile ingredient required from manure; the other three — 
oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon — being obtained in sufficient 
abundance from soil, tlie atmosphere, and from water. 

It would be useless to add further to this list ; enough 
have been enumerated to give a general idea of what is neces- 



9 




47 




21 




10? 




H 




12? 




H 




5 




1 




3^ 





13 

sary for their growth, and also to show that all the ingredients 
of plants are found in guano. Putting guano into the soil, 
therefore, as a manure, is clearly restoring to the earth those 
substances which plants abstract from it, and which are abso- 
lutely necessary for their growth. 

Now, the questions remain as to the quantity, cost, and 
mode of application. This last is of the utmost importance, 
as guano is a very concentrated, strong manure. Too much 
would be more injurious than none at all. 

From what precedes, it is beyond dispute that guano con- 
tains the chief ingredients required for the growth of plants. 
The instances hereafter adduced will show that the combina- 
tion and form of these ingredients are such as to promote not 
only its immediate action, but clearly to accelerate considera- 
bly the progress of vegetation. One of the numerous objec- 
tions to this manure is, that, although it may answer well in 
the humid atmosphere of England, it cannot produce equal 
benefit in the hot, sandy soils of this country. In reply to 
this, it may be observed, that the sandy soils of South America 
are more hot tlian they are here ; and, on the coast of Peru, 
where it is most used, it scarcely ever rains at all. The truth 
is, that it certainly requires moisture to decompose it, and 
enable it to enter into the juices of the plant ; by no means, 
however, so much as is usually supposed ; but, once absorbed 
by the roots and plants, it imparts that strength and solidity 
which enable them to resist both drought and cold. 

As many of my experiments were made with guano from 
different localities, I will, at this point, give the most approved 
analyses ; taking those which, having been made by Dr. Ure, 
my brother, and myself, for agricultural purposes, will be more 
simple and intelligible to agriculturists, as well as best adapted 
to illustrate the information I wish to convey. 
2 



14 



ANALYSES OF GUANO. 

In the discussion of these analyses, my observations will be 
chiefly confined to the agricultural value of tlie various ingre- 
dients, without at all entering into the scientific questions 
which must arise in the mind of every chemist who has 
studied this chemically-complex and intricate substance. 
The chief ingredients, then, of guano, are, 

Ammonia, in various forms and combinations ; 

Phosphate and oxalate of lime and magnesia ; 

Salts of potash and soda ; 

Animal organic matter ; 

Sand and moisture. 
Let us consider their separate agricultural value. 
\. Phosphate of Lime. — This is a valuable and indispensa- 
ble ingredient in soils ; but it is the same as bone manure, or 
bone dust, except that, in guano, it is in a finer powder, or 
state of division, than can be, in any way, artificially pro- 
duced ; and hence it acts powerfully and immediately. Many 
soils, particularly those with a large admixture of disintegrated 
granite,* contain naturally a considerable quantity of this sub- 
stance ; enough to supply the crops of many years of corn 
and other vegetables, in which a reference to the foregoing 
pages will show it to be a necessary portion. In such soils, it 
is therefore of little comparative virtue. In other soils, par- 
ticularly those which are poor and sandy, it is a beneficial and 
necessary addition ; but alone, it would be of little use, and, 
in quantity, even very injurious ; being of a hot nature, as will 

* Some very recent and interesting experiments seem to prove that phos- 
phoric acid exists in many more rocks and minerals than has been hitherto 
s ipposed. 



15 

have been experienced by many who have used bone manure 
injudiciously in their efforts to produce luxuriant vegetation, 
and have burned up their plants. Phosphate of lime, in the 
shape of crushed bones, can be obtained at a cheaper rate, 
when required, than it can be purchased in guano. Notwith- 
standing these remarks, in combination with the other ingre- 
dients of guano, it becomes, in most soils, of considerable 
advantage. It is insoluble in water. 

2. Magnesia is already found, in most earths, in sufficient 
quantity for the small demands made upon it by vegetation. 

3. The Sah^ of Potash and Soda are valuable, but might 
also be obtained cheaper from leys and other sources, to sup- 
ply what is taken off by the crops. 

4. The Sand is evidently of little value, except in clay soils. 

5. The Oxalates are of little known general value as ma- 
nure. 

It must not, however, be imagined that these substances are 
of no value in the guano ; quite the contrary. I am, above, 
only alluding to tlieir separate values in any soil. For it 
may be easily conceived that, if all the materials necessary 
for the growth and perfection of a plant be presented to the 
roots together, the growth may be more rapid, equal, and lux- 
uriant, and the produce more certain and larger, than if the 
roots had to search for each ingredient required, with the 
uncertainty of finding them either within their reach or in a 
state bringing them under the control of their powers ; in 
which state they exist in guano. 

The feeding or absorption by the roots of plants, with their 
faculties of abstracting, in a liquid form, substances insoluble 
in water and in many of the chemist's liquids, is a subject 
on which vegetable physiology has as yet shed but little true 
light. The above is, therefore, only an idea suggested by 



16 

the visible operation of this manure, and by observations on 
its action at various periods of growth. 

There remain, then, only the Animal Matter and the Ammo- 
nia to be considered, as the most important ingredients. The 
organic animal matter, as will be seen, is not in very large 
proportion, but what there is, is valuable ; in the Peruvian 
and Bolivian guano, it is already combined with ammonia ; 
and, in the others, much of it is resolvable into this substance. 

6. Ammonia. — According to the best vegetable physiolo- 
gists, nitrogen, or azote, the chief constituent of ammonia, 
exists in all parts of plants ; and it is in the form of am- 
monia that it enters them. It seems to be the great agent in 
stimulating the increase and propagation of all the vessels in 
the plant. Hence, with an ample supply of this substance, 
combined with other necessary materials, Nature can push her 
development of root, stem, leaf, flower, seed-vessel, and seed, 
to its farthest extent. Ammonia, therefore, in some shape or 
combination, must be necessary in any manure destined to 
produce luxuriant growth ; and it is the most valuable ingre- 
dient in guano, the mercantile worth of which is regulated 
principally by the quantity it contains of this substance. 

In some of its combinations, however, it is more volatile — 
that is, evaporable in the atmosphere at common tempera- 
tures — than in others. That in the South American guano is 
less volatile than that in the Ichaboe and other African local- 
ities. This is owing partly to the Ichaboe being mixed with 
a portion of the remains of dead animals, partly from being 
the manure of the penguin as well as of the albatross tribe, 
and also partly from its being a more recent accumulation, 
and not having lain long enough to undergo the same de- 
composition as the South American. This last contains what 
Dr. Ure has named potential ammonia, which means simply 



17 

this substance in a more permanent form, and is, in this state, 
contained in the animal matter and in the uric acid, which 
latter is in extremely small quantity, if at all, in the Ichaboe 
guano. Humate of ammonia is also a very permanent form, 
and this likewise exists in guano. 

Some from Saldanha Bay, which I have analyzed, seems 
to have undergone the same decomposition as the South 
American, although the rain which prevails there has washed 
out a large proportion of the ammoniacal salts ; it also con- 
tains, like that, a portion of uric acid, but not near as much. 

To choose guano, then, regard must first be had to the 
quantity of ammonia ; and it is preferable when in the most 
permanent form : such is the Peruvian. The moisture is next 
to be considered ; first, because it is water, and nothing else ; 
and secondly, because moisture aids the decomposition and 
volatilization of the different ammoniacal ingredients, which is 
not desirable until the guano is in the soil. It should also 
be pretty free from foreign substances, such as dirt, sand, 
sticks, skin, stones, &c. The Peruvian and the true Bolivian 
are the best ; after these, the first quality from Ichaboe, such 
as the cargo per Samos ; then the second quality from Icha- 
boe, and that from Saldanha Bay. These are the only local- 
ities from whence cargoes have been hitherto introduced here. 
The Chilian is quite inferior, and generally contains only 
eight to twelve per cent, ammoniacal salts. Numerous ves- 
sels from Europe are now searching in every probable place in 
the world for this manure. I trust and believe they will be 
successful. I purposely omit all reference to adulteration, as 
I think it has not yet been practised here to any extent ; and 
the only caution 1 can give is, to request those who purchase 
to apply to men whose characters are above all suspicion of 
fraud and dishonesty. There are many such in the trade. 
2* 



18 



GUANO FROM SOUTH AMERICA. 

The guano from Peru is the dung of birds of the alba- 
tross tribe, who have for ages covered the islands on this 
coast in countless thousands, during the time of their annual 
incubation, and have consequently formed immense deposits 
of this valuable manure. As it never rains on this part of 
the coast, the hot sun, with the dew, soon forms a crust over 
the newly-made annual deposit. Under this, a close species 
of decomposition and concentration takes place ; and, the 
escape of ammoniacal gas being prevented, it becomes con- 
densed into the other ingredients, and finally, after various 
probable, although not well-understood, transmutations, exists 
in its most permanent form, and in great quantity. 

The guano from this part of the coast is therefore the 
most valuable of any for agricultural purposes, particularly for 
spreading broadcast, or where it is in any way exposed to 
the action of heat or atmosphere. 

Under circumstances of exposure which would deprive the 
Ichaboe guano of a great portion of its ammonia, the Peru- 
vian would retain the chief part. This must be borne in 
mind in its application. 

The best analyses of Peruvian guano give, as ingredients, 
33 to 40 per cent, of ammoniacal salts ; 
5 " 7 " " " animal matter ; 
8 " 12 " " " salts of potash and soda ; 
23 " 28 " " " phosphate of lime and mag- 
nesia, and oxalate of lime ; 
10 " 13 " " " water; 
with a little sand. 
This guano contains from seven to twelve per cent, of uric 
acid, and this, as before mentioned, forms an important part 



19 

of its value. The Bolivian guano is next in value to the 
Peruvian. It contains about three per cent, of uric acid. 
Analysis gives 

about 36 per cent, of ammoniacal salts ; 
" 5 " " " animal organic matter ; 
" 16 " " " salts of potash and soda ; 
" 28 " " " phosphate of lime and mag- 
nesia, and oxalate of lime ; 
" 14 " " " water. 
The Chilian guano is the most inferior of all those from 
South America, and contains no uric acid. Analysis gives 
about 12 per cent, of ammoniacal salts; 
" 3 " " " animal matter ; 
" 8 " " " salts of soda and potash ; 
" 53 " " " phosphate of lime and mag- 
nesia, and oxalate of lime ; 
" 22 " " " water; 
" 2 " " " sand. 

AFRICAN GUANOES. 

Of those from the coast of Africa, the best is unquestion- 
ably that first brought from Ichaboe — a deposit now unfor- 
tunately exhausted. But it does not contain uric acid. The 
best analyses give, as ingredients, 

23 to 28 per cent, of ammoniacal salts ; 
5 " 9 " " " animal organic matter ; 
9 '•' 11 " " " salts of potash and soda ; 
30 " 37 " " " phosphate of lime and mag- 
nesia, and oxalate of lime ; 
18 " 25 " " " water. 
The ammoniacal salts here are in a much more volatile 



20 

and soluble form than in the South American sorts, and there- 
fore, in the application, it should be quickly covered up with 
soil ; the ammonia then, as the guano decomposes by heat, 
moisture, itc, combines with the constituents of the soil, and 
takes a more permanent form, so that but little is lost. 

The refuse African guano from Ichaboe, that from Pedestal 
Point, Algoa Bay, some from Angra de Pequena, Possession 
Island, &c., are much inferior to the above, and vary from 
ten to twenty per cent, of ammoniacal salts ; the other ingre- 
dients increase in proportion to this deficiency. It is prob- 
able that a large proportion of the valuable salts have been 
washed out from these by rain. I have, however, analyzed a 
guano from Saldanha Bay, which, although by no means so 
rich in ammoniacal salts as that from Ichaboe, seems to have 
lain long enough to undergo the same decomposition as 
the South American guano, and to contain some ammonia 
in its most permanent form, with uric acid. Here, as before 
stated, the rain has also washed out much of the valuable 
ingredients, which is probably the reason why it contains so 
much less ammonia than that from South America, or rather 
from Peru. Vessels have gone to endeavor to find these am- 
moniacal salts washed out, and, if they succeed, will probably 
bring home valuable cargoes. 

It will be seen, therefore, that guano varies as much as 
other manure, and that the reports of experiments on guano, 
without a perfect knowledge of the kind, and the exact 
method of application, convey no valuable information, give 
no rule which would be safe for the farmer to follow. 

If that from Ichaboe be spread broadcast on the surface, 
and no rain follow immediately, the ammonia will evaporate, 
and the effect be altogether trifling ; whereas the same quan- 
tity under the surface, where this ammonia could be absorbed 



21 

by the soil, and from this given off to the roots, would pro- 
duce immense benefit ; while that from Peru would compara- 
tively lose little by the former method of spreading broadcast. 
For using in solutions in water, I rather prefer the best Icha- 
boe to the Peruvian, nearly the whole of the ammoniacal salts 
of the former being soluble ; but, for using the whole substance, 
that from Peru is decidedly more permanent in its effects. 

The best agricultural method of making an analysis of 
guano is, first to ascertain the quantity of moisture in one 
hundred parts, then to ascertain with exactness the quantity 
of ammonia they contain. Tiie next operation is to see how 
much is soluble in water. This will give chiefly the salts of 
potash and soda. The ammoniacal salts, being known already, 
are burned off; the potash and soda remain behind. There 
are still left those portions insoluble in water. Such are the 
phosphate and oxalate of lime, and phosphate of magnesia, 
the sand, and the organic animal matter. These, although 
insoluble in water, are more or less decomposable by the ac- 
tion of the plant and the matters found in the soil ; and, 
being in a state of extremely fine division, this action is quick 
and immediately serviceable to the plant. They are chemi- 
cally discoverable by solution in acids, and precipitation by 
the usual tests. 

Uric acid may be discovered and estimated, as stated by 
Dr. Ure, by treatment with a weak solution of borax, and 
precipitation by hydrochloric acid, and, for urea, by boiling 
the residue left after solution by boiling water, in very strong 
alcohol, in a thick flask. 

The whole of these operations require extreme care and 
patience to give satisfactory results, and should always be 
done in duplicate. 

I now proceed to give the result of my experiments. 



APPLICATION OF GUANO IN CULTIVATION. 

ZBA MAIS, OR INDIAN CORN, 
THE VARIETY CALLED SWEET CORN. 

Several hills were planted on a poor, sandy, sterile soil. 
First application, one teaspoonful South American guano, 
well mixed with the soil when sown. Second, when twelve 
to fifteen inches high, the earth was drawn away from around 
the hill, and about three teaspoonfuls strewed in the circle, 
which was immediately covered up again. This application 
was made at least five to six inches from the base of the 
stem, and the trench, by the hoc, from three to four inches 
in breadth, and one and a half to two inches deep. After 
this application, water was profusely given, as the weather 
was dry. 

The corn from this experiment was exhibited in the rooms 
of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The produce of 
one seed was three chief stems, bearing eight perfect heads, 
and five suckers, each showing the silk, (the mass of pistils 
of the fertile heads,) and weighed, the roots being cut off, 
eight and a quarter pounds. The best plant from several 
adjacent hills without guano had only one head, and weighed, 
under the same circumstances, one pound and a quarter. I 
have since tried several applications with this plant, and find 
the best method as follows : — 

Hollow out the hill, put in one teaspoonful and a half of 
guano, and mix it well with the soil. Spread even, then put 
on this about one or one and a half inch depth of light soil,, 
on which sow the seed, and cover up. When the corn is 
about twelve inches high, or the time of first hoeing, begin 
with the hoe about four inches from the stems, and make a 



23 

trench the width of the hoe, about two or three inches deep. 
Spread in this trench about three or four teaspoonfuls guano, 
stir it in, and cover the trench as quickly as possible. If this 
last operation can be performed just before or during rain, the 
action will be quicker and more effectual. I have here named 
the quantity of guano. It is evident, however, that this must 
depend on quality, as previously stated. My experiments this 
year were made with best African guano, containing about 
twenty-six per cent, of ammonia ; that which contains less of 
this substance should be used in greater quantity. The 
growth of corn under this treatment is so luxuriant, that, un- 
less a much greater space than usual is allowed between the 
plants, to admit freely the action of the sun and air, fully to 
ripen the juices, the plant will be very subject to the smut. 
This is so certain a result, that I recommend the hills to be 
placed at nearly double the usual distance, and the seed thus 
sown also. This plant requiring considerable phosphate of 
lime for the perfection of the seed, it seems scarcely to admit 
of doubt that phosphate of lime, in a very fine and divided 
state, in the guano, being presented to the roots at the same 
time with the manure which promotes their growth, is easily 
absorbed by them, and must therefore be of great advantage, 
even in soils which already contain this substance. The same 
may be said of the magnesia, of which a reference to the 
preceding analyses will show that corn contains about seven- 
teen per cent. 

I have sown a piece of land, this year, with Indian corn, 
and manured with African guano, as stated ; but, as it was an 
experiment, for the purpose of making into corn-stalk sugar, 
with a view of trying the virtue of guano in increasing the 
saccharine juice, I was obliged to cut off the heads as soon as 
they appeared. After the first early decapitation, another crop 



24 

of heads appeared, which were likewise cut off. I cannot, 
therefore, give the agricultural value of this experiment, but 
believe they would have averaged three heads to a stalk. 
The plants looked uncommonly luxuriant. 

To exhibit- the operation of the phosphates, in abundance, 
favoring the determination of the juices of the plant towards 
the formation of seed, I can state that, in many instances in 
the above experiment, three and four heads of corn grew 
from the axil of one leaf, from which usually only one springs ; 
these in the guanoed corn were full, and would have come 
to perfection. In a parallel experiment on the same piece 
of land, where sugar-refuse was used instead of guano, the 
plants were comparatively diminutive and poor ; but many had 
four, five, six, seven, and even eight, of these heads springing 
from one axil ; they were, however, mere skeletons or em- 
bryoes. Sugar-refuse consists chiefly of phosphate of lime 
and charcoal, with scarcely any ammonia or magnesia ; so 
that here, ammonia, and one of the ingredients of the seed, 
(magnesia,) were wanting. The plants were consequently 
diminutive in growth, and the seeds not perfect, but the tend- 
ency to form them in abundance seemed decided. Speci- 
mens of these growths were shown at the exhibition of the 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society this year. 

There is little doubt that guano accelerates considerably 
the germination of the seed, as well as the growth of the 
plant. The piece of land above referred to was sown on the 
22d of May, and was earlier than all the parcels of the same 
kind sown in the neighborhood with manure, the seeds of 
which were put into the ground the first week in May. This 
is of great importance, as lessening the danger by spring and 
autumnal frosts. Turnips I sowed, the evening of the 15th 
of August, on ground dressed with Saldanha Bay guano, broad- 



25 

cast and scuffled in with the spade ; vegetated on the evening 
of the 18th, and, on the following morning, the surface was 
perfectly green with them. That sown on the adjoining 
piece two weeks previously, without guano, was just coming 
into second leaf. It is proper to add that I watered the 
guanoed piece copiously the day after sowing, as it was in- 
tended for an experiment on the power of the guano from 
that locality. Some farmers have thought best to mix guano 
with other substances, such as manure, muck, ashes, loam, &c., 
previous to spreading it on the land. On this point, my 
opinion is, that it is by far preferable to crush the lumps, and 
use guano by itself, or, if it must be mixed, only to use sand, 
or dry, sandy loam. The chief reason for this is, that stirring 
it about, in mixing, exposes the ammonia to be lost by evap- 
oration in the air. This is, however, more the case with the 
African timn the Peruvian, still even to a considerable extent 
with the latter. Muck is too moist and tenacious to enable 
it to be properly disseminated amongst the mass. Therefore, 
wherever any quantity is together, it would injure the sprout- 
ing seed ; and moisture immediately causes guano to undergo 
the very decomposition which is required to promote vegeta- 
tion ; therefore this ought not to be produced until it is in 
the vicinity of the plant or seed. Ashes of wood contain the 
very alkalies which the cliemist uses in his analyses to sepa- 
rate the ammonia. He also uses lime for this purpose. 
Therefore ashes, or any substance containing lime, must be 
an improper mixture ; they would quickly drive off this the 
most valuable part of the guano. 

The object of the farmer should be to place his guano in 

such a situation that, when its decomposition commences, 

the soil sliould absorb the products of this action, and that 

soil be in the immediate neighborhood of the roots of the 

3 



26 

plant to be manured — they will speedily find it out of their 
own accord. 

Manure, except when dry, — and then it is not very valua- 
ble, — is open to the same objection as muck; besides which, 
if guano alone will give an excellent crop, why throw away 
the manure ? 

Light, dry loam, and sand, are not objectionable. The lat- 
ter is highly to be recommended on a clay soil, where the 
action of the guano is evidently much impeded. 

GRASS AND GRASS LAND. 

The application of this manure to grass land already laid 
down is, for many reasons, often attended with uncertain 
results. The best mode is, to spread broadcast about two 
hundred and fifty pounds per acre of the Peruvian guano as 
soon as the snow is oflf the ground. It would be very ad- 
vantageous if, after it was spread on, some light loam could 
be put over it, in the manner of a top-dressing. I state the 
Peruvian guano is the best for this operation, as it contains 
what Dr. Ure calls potential ammonia, or ammonia in a more 
permanent form ; whereas the ammonia from the Ichaboe 
guano evaporates more easily, and this valuable ingredient is 
therefore lost in the atmosphere when it is spread on the 
surface. I have already mentioned this previously, but pur- 
posely repeat it here. Most excellent crops have been ob- 
tained, where the grass is sown and laid down in the 
autumn, on light, sandy soils, by sowing the guano evenly 
broadcast, then harrowing twice, sowing the grass seed, and 
rolling. But in this, as in every case where guano should be 
applied broadcast, it seems to me that the most efficacious 
method would be to strew a quantity in the furrow made by 



27 

the plough ; tlie soil raised of the next furrow will then lap 
over and cover it up. A very small quantity, say certainly 
not exceeding one hundred pounds to the acre, may then be 
sown broadcast on the surface, and harrowed in with the 
seed, in order, like a steep, to promote the luxuriance of the 
early growth of the plant. When the roots have attained a 
greater strength, they will then come in contact with that 
buried under the furrow, which, by the time it is wanted, will 
have become thoroughly decomposed in the soil, and be ex- 
actly fitted to the wants of the plant. 

In several cases, where sods have been laid down for lawns 
or embankments round houses, the most surprising growth has 
been obtained by strewing the surface with guano previous to 
laying on the sod. The nnanure is then brought into con- 
tact with the roots, which — being strong and old, not tender 
and young, like the sprout and root of a seed — take imme- 
diate hold, and this effect is produced without injury. 

I will here state that, on light lands, I consider three hun- 
dred pounds Peruvian guano to the acre quite sufficient ; if 
Ichaboe, about one fourth more ; and others according to the 
percentage of ammonia. 

E. Baylies, Esq., of Taunton, sowed four hundred and sixty 
pounds of African guano (per ship Samos) per acre with grass 
seed, which yielded, this year, one ton per acre more than 
that without ; and the appearance of the guanoed grass is 
now much more thick, luxuriant, and promising, for next year, 
than the other. 

It is scarcely necessary to add that I consider wheat, bar- 
ley, oats, rye, &c., as grasses, and these methods of applica- 
tion to be most rational, and give the most probable prospect 
of success. Every farmer, ' however, must reflect a little on 
the nature of his soil. I can, of course, only give general 



28 

directions, and exhibit the nature of the action of this ma- 
nure. A man of any judgment, then, can hardly fail. 

In the treatment of bush beans, a few pages hence, I state 
a fact respecting the flavor. I will here mention, relating to 
the same subject, that two cases are reported, in English 
papers, where the birds selected the fields of the guanoed 
wheat in preference to those manured, nearly eating up the 
first, and leaving the latter untouched ; also, that I have the 
testimony of several friends, that their vegetables grown with 
guano were superior in flavor to any before tasted ; and this 
entirely coincides with the whole of my own observations. 

GRAPE VINES. 

Here my individual experience is small, having only planted 
two vines, last autumn, manured with guano, which are grow- 
ing vigorously. But many others have tried it on them with 
the greatest possible success, both as to growth of stem and 
fruit. This plant is a gross feeder, and will bear a great 
quantity of this manure without injury. Vines grown in pots 
will make a surprising growth if watered with a solution of 
guano ; but, for the reasons given under the head of Indian 
corn, I think that the guano itself, containing the phosphate 
of lime, will give greater and better produce. The well- 
known success of others with this plant renders any evidence 
from me unnecessary. The best method of application is the 
same as for trees, which follows. 

TREES. 

The experiments with guano on trees which have come 
under my observation, including exotics number about one 



29 

hundred and fifty. The action has invariably been to pro- 
duce large foliage, of a deep, healthy green, or with plants, 
usually covered with a white powder, called glaucous, to in- 
crease this appearance, and to shorten the joints or intervals 
from leaf to leaf. This last action, as respects fruit-trees, is 
of the utmost importance ; every one being aware that long- 
drawn, long-jointed shoots are the least valuable or produc- 
tive, and that the fruit-bearing spurs on trees are but branches 
with shortened joints. Hence the production of short-jointed, 
stocky branches is the production of so much fruitful wood ; 
and if, by proper pruning, the sun and air are admitted so as 
to ripen the wood, a plentiful croj) must be the result. 

Tiie best mode of application to fruit-trees seems to be, 
first, to consider where are the young feeding roots, — that is, 
at what distance from the stem, and what depth in the 
ground, — then to place the guano as near them and as much 
around them as possible, without being in absolute contact. 

For instance, round an apple-tree of ten years' siandin"-, 
dig a trench, one or one and a half foot deep, at about the 
same distance from the stem that the branch.es extend ; let 
this trench be about one foot wide ; then put at the bottom 
one and a half inch depth of guano, dig it well in, and in- 
corporate it with the soil ; then cover up carefully, and press 
the earth down. The effect of this application will unques- 
tionably be felt for several years. 

I am rather inclined to attribute this shortening of the 
joints chiefly to the action of tlie soluble portions of the 
guano ; as the pelargonium, the orange, and many other plants 
which exhibited this appearance, had only been watered with 
its solution. But, in all applications to fruit-trees, I recom- 
mend the guano itself, as the insoluble portion contains the 
chief materials of the seed, to protect and cover whicli fruit 
3* 



30 

is formed. Where young trees are to be manured, a little 
guano, dug in at the surface around the tree, as well as in a 
trench, will be advantageous. 

The use of guano for trees probably combines another ad- 
vantage of inestimable value ; this is, the destruction of the 
insect tribe which are buried in the earth, and emerge from 
thence with the warmth of spring. The coverings of these 
insects, when they first come out of the ground, are not hard- 
ened ; and, in this tender state, the contact with a moder- 
ately strong solution destroys them. I have tried experiments 
on about eight or ten various caterpillars, and some other 
insects, and have invariably found a solution of guano kill 
them quickly, except when in an advanced state ; then it took 
a longer time and a stronger solution. Salt and oil-soap are 
both apt to be injurious to vegetation ; but, by strewing guano 
around the trees, and turning it in a little depth, the plant 
will be benefited, and the insects at the same time destroyed. 
My experiments on this subject, although perfectly convincing 
and satisfactory to myself, have, for want of time, not been 
conducted with that care and precision which should autlior- 
ize me to lay them before the public with requisite confi- 
dence. My last experiment was with the destructive grub 
melolontha, so well known to subsist on the roots of grass, of 
which a friend kindly sent me a box. Six of these white 
grubs were placed in a saucer half full of water, in wliich a 
teaspoonful of African guano had been put and well stirred. 
They immediately began to feel uneasy, and, in about two 
hours, the whole six were dead. 

Several friends, who have tried guano this year on their 
pear-trees, have reported to me the result to be greater crops, 
and of a much larger size, than they ever had previously. 
The improvement of the flavor of fruit is an experiment yet 



31 

to be tried on an extensive scale, previous to a final deter- 
mination of this important question. 

PEAS. 

The kinds on which I experimented were Prince Albert, 
Shilling's early grotto, (a dwarf pea,) blue imperial, and 
marrowfat. 

The method I adopted with all was to draw a deep trench 
with a hoe, to strew guano in the trench, mix it up with the 
soil, over this put about one inch and a half of earth, then 
sow the seed, and cover up. In this way, I calculated that 
the young sprouts of the seed, both root and embryo, could 
not be injured by coming into immediate contact with the 
guano, and tiiat, when the roots were strong enough to bear 
it, they would find the guano in that state of decomposition 
best suited for them. The quantity used was about three 
pints of Ichaboe guano to a quart of seed, sown, however, 
much thicker than is customary here. It will be observed 
that, in this case, the natural moisture of the soil, at the 
depth at which the guano was placed, was sufficient to bring 
it to a proper state of solution, and rendered the necessity of 
immediate rain not of so much consequence. When rain did 
come, it was beautiful to see the luxuriance resulting, and I felt 
persuaded that none of the virtue of the guano had escaped 
at the surface. The produce of the first three kinds of pea 
was five full pecks to the quart of seed, besides a full quart 
of seed gathered for next year. From the marrowfats I 
obtained only four pecks and a half, and no seed. The 
growth of all was extremely luxuriant. The marrowfats were 
six and a half feet high, the stems from one to one and a 
(juarter inch in circumference. On the blue imperials, almost 



32 

every flower bore fruit. On a stem thirteen inches high 
there were twenty-two pods. This was not at all uncommon, 
and such was the specimen I exhibited this year at the room 
of the Massacliusetts Horticultural Society. Many pods of 
the crop contained nine or ten peas ; these would be valu- 
able for seed. I also exhibited very luxuriant specimens of 
Shilling's early grotto in the same hall. The joints, or dis- 
tance from leaf to leaf, was very much shortened — an effect 
of guano which has been remarked on in its application to 
fruit-trees. 

I have previously observed that rain was not so absolutely 
necessary as is supposed. It will be seen that, in this exper- 
iment with the pea, the guano was placed at such a depth 
that the natural moisture of the earth decomposed it, and 
rendered it fit for the plant. It is seldom that drought pen- 
etrates so deep as this into the soil ; therefore, if the appli- 
cation be made judiciously, dependent on the nature of the 
soil, and if its capacity for retaining moisture be considered, 
the want of rain is not so fatal an objection to the use of 
guano as might be thought. Thus, for instance, in the light- 
est soils, plough and bury guano a little deeper than in others 
more heavy ; the guano itself retains moisture, and absorbs 
it naturally. 

CHINA BUSH BEAN. 

A row was sown on each side of my garden-walk. One 
was partially shaded from the hot sun. This was tried with- 
out guano. To the other, fully exposed to the sun, guano 
was applied in the same way as with the peas. The guanoed 
row bore nearly twice as many beans as the other ; and, while 
that was turning yellow with partial exposure to the heat of 
the sun, this, exposed to its full influence, remained green 



33 

and unscorched. Between the produce of these two rows 
a marked difference in flavor was observed by myself and 
family, altiiough the latter were not aware of the difference 
in tlieir cultivation. I need scarcely add, that those with 
guano were of the most agreeable taste. 

In this experiment, particularly, the stability given to the 
plant, and its power to resist the heat of the sun, compared 
with the other, are remarkable. This was evidently also the 
case with the peas. There were, with these, however, no un- 
guanoed rows to institute a parallel, but only those in neigh- 
boring gardens. A friend of mine sowed grass, last autumn, 
in the sandy soil near Taunton, with a full quantity of ma- 
nure, and an adjoining acre, as an experiment, with four hun- 
dred pounds of Ichaboe guano. The guanoed acre grew 
stronger, and retained its full verdure the whole winter ; the 
manured piece, on the contrary, became, as usual, brown by 
the action of the frost. 

From these and several other experiments reported to me, 
it seems clear that this manure gives a stability and strength 
to vegetation which enable it better to resist both cold and 
heat, as well as drought, than when the usual manure is em- 
ployed. 

MELONS. 

The two kinds tried were the green-fleshed cantaloupe, 
and some seeds which I received as the sweet melon of Ispa- 
han. They were both steeped in guano water, and raised in 
a parlor. At the proper season, they were planted out on 
poor soil, with the addition of three teaspoonfuls of African 
guano to the hill, and afterwards occasionally watered with a 
weak solution. On two plants of the Ispahan I had five 
fruit, two of a good size. They are all now (September 



34 

16th) nearly ripe, being quite yellow. On the one plant of 
the cantaloupe there was only one fruit, and that not very 
large. It is naturally a shy bearer, and was unfortunately 
placed by accident in a very shady part of the garden. I 
do not think the fruit will ripen. The roots of melons, 
squashes, cucumbers, and most of the cucurbitaceous tribe, 
spread about at very little depth from the surface of the 
ground — a circumstance which must be taken into consider- 
ation in the application of guano ; and, generally speaking, a 
knowledge of the natural growth of the roots is necessary 
to decide on the best method of using this manure. This 
is so evident, that nothing further need be said on the 
subject. 

POTATOES. 

I have not made any experiment, but must refer, in this 
case, to numerous experiments of others, which are detailed 
in various agricultural publications. Nearly all the compara- 
tive experiments I have read on this tuber are certainly in 
favor of the guano. By attending to the observations respect- 
ing the roots, in various pages of this essay, no difficulty can 
be experienced in the method of application. 

E. Baylies, Esq., of Taunton, has kindly furnished me with 
the following result of his experiment on potatoes : — 

Soil, very sandy and light ; quantity, eight hundred pounds 
African (per ship Samos) to the acre ; cost, twenty dollars. 
Same soil, with twenty-two loads fine compost manure, cost 
twenty-two dollars. Yield, as eleven to nine, or twenty-two 
per cent, in favor of guano, the potatoes with wliich were 
larger than the others. 



35 



CELERY. 



I was indebted to my friends for young plants of this vege- 
table ; consequently, my experiments did not commence with 
the seed, and were therefore hardly so early as they should 
have been. After digging two trenches, in one I strewed a 
good layer of Ichaboe guano, and dug it in the bottom of the 
trench ; then, watering well, I put on two inches of soil, and 
planted the celery. In the other, I planted without any ad- 
dition, for the purpose of experimenting with guano water. 
This latter I watered, three times a week, with a solution of 
one pound African to fifteen gallons of water. The last- 
mentioned plants grew more rapidly than the others, and arc 
now more advanced than those with guano ; but the others 
are rapidly gaining on them. This experiment will be a good 
test of the question of flavor. 

TURNIPS. 

I have already mentioned two experiments with this vege- 
table. The guanoed plants are now as large and fine as 
those without guano, and are fast getting beyond them. I 
set off a portion of the unguanoed piece, and gave it, once 
a week for three weeks, a copious application of moderately 
strong guano solution. The plants on this portion are now 
twice as large as those which have not had any. It is per- 
fectly beautiful to see the luxuriance of all these guanoed 
vegetables compared with the others. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

A bed of Hovey's seedling was planted in November, 1844, 
just previous to the ground being closed by frost. As early 



36 

in the spring as the state of the soil would permit, I drew a 
trench, with a hoe, between the rows of plants, about two 
inches deep, put in guano, stirred up, and covered it over, 
thinking that the roots would naturally find the guano. From 
this bed I gathered a plentiful crop of fine fruit, which I 
believe would not have occurred without the guano, as the 
soil was in a miserable, meagre state. 

I am now trying two experiments on the same poor soil ; 
one, a bed of strawberries with guano dug into the soil, at 
the rate of four hundred pounds Ichaboe to the acre ; another 
without guano, but watered once a week with guano water. 
This watering I propose to continue in the spring, and shall 
then see which will produce the best crop, with tlie best 
flavor. At present, the watered plants are much more thrifty, 
and larger, than the others, and are throW'ing out numerous 
runners, which, of course, are removed. 

CABBAGES. 

My experiments with this vegetable have hardly been suf- 
ficiently numerous to be satisfactory. I have only tried the 
late savoys. About three weeks after planting out, I began 
to water, twice a week, with a solution of guano. The plants 
are now in fine luxuriance, exhibiting large, deep, green glau- 
cous foliage ; but I fear that, owing to want of time, they 
were hardly planted early enough to form large heads previ- 
ous to the arrival of frost. 

Five of these plants I transplanted to another part, for the 
purpose of trying the Saldanha Bay guano, of which I gave 
them each about a teaspoonful when planted, and afterwards 
watered with a solution. They are, at least, as luxuriant as 
the others. 



37 



CAULIFLOWERS. 



Two experiments, one with guano, the other with a solu- 
tion. The first are fine strong plants, particularly one to 
which I gave a larger share than the others ; it is heading 
finely. But those with the solution are much larger and 
finer. I have been accustomed to observe the cultivation of 
this vegetable, and never saw such a luxuriant growth. They 
are now (September 15th) beginning to show flower; and, if 
the season is favorable, I expect the heads will be very fine. 
The plants are at least four times larger than those on the 
same piece without guano, or any manure at all, planted on 
the same day, from the same seed-bed. This will give some 
idea of the poor, exhausted state of the land on which all 
my experiments have been tried. 

The whole of my cauliflower plants were dreadfully infested 
with the gray aphis, or louse, which has this season been very 
common. As this was an experiment, I used every possible 
means to destroy them — Scotch snufi', oil-soap, and guano 
water. The insects were so numerous, and so well protected 
by their gray powder, and the curl of tlie leaf, that the ut- 
most force of the syringe was almost unavailing. Scotch snuff" 
killed them, but they soon reappeared. Both oil-soap and 
guano water were pretty eflectual ; of the two, I prefer the 
latter. Although I took great pains to eradicate them, they 
unquestionably delayed the growth of the plants a fortnight, 
which, I fear, may prevent their heading sufficiently for ex- 
hibition previous to frost. The plants are now two feet and 
three quarters in height, and two feet and a half in diameter. 



There are many other vegetables on which I should like to 
see experiments. For instance, on rhubarb, guano would un- 
4 



38 

questionably increase the size of the salable part, and proba- 
bly much improve the flavor. On asparagus, I am sure the 
effect of forking it in as early in the spring as possible would 
be extremely beneficial ; but it should be used without any 
other addition. 

On camellias, pelargoniums, cactecB, amaryllis, hippeastrum, 
and many bulbous-rooted plants, — orange-trees, jjnssijloras, 
acacias, and a great number of other exotic plants, — I have 
made various experiments, the detail of which would hardly 
interest the general readers of this pamphlet. The result, 
however, is an opinion that, where size and beauty of flowers 
are required, a solution of guano in water is preferable to the 
guano itself; but, wherever fruit is desirable, the guano, ap- 
plied with proper discretion, is best. Another important ob- 
servation on this subject is, that guano, or its solution, should 
never be applied except at that period of the season when 
the growth of wood is proper and natural. For instance, 
after the camellia has formed its full-sized buds, if guano, or 
the solution, be applied liberally, the plant will immediately 
begin to form new shoots, the buds will be left behind, and 
the flovvcrs will open with diminished beauty. This, at least, 
is my experience. 

This manure, owing chiefly to its ammonia, is of so stim- 
ulating a nature, that it will start vegetation at any period 
when the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere will 
permit it to proceed, and will, therefore, become of great im- 
portance in forcing-houses. 

On roses, the beneficial effect is already well known. If tea- 
roses are cut down when the bloom is over, repotted in fresh 
earth, and well watered, twice or thrice a week, with guano 
water, they will immediately throw out luxuriant shoots, 
and be covered with their fragrant blossoms. I have two 



39 

tea-roses in pots, which are now, for the fourth time, in bloom 
since February. 

I exhibited, this year, at the room of the Massachusetts 
Horticultural Society, echinocactus ottonis, three years' old 
from the oflset, with three flowers expanded, and eight buds, 
not one of which failed to produce large, well-formed flowers; 
also echinocactus eyricsii, in blossom, being an offset three 
years old. The appearance of these plants was of the most 
healthy kind. But, with all succulent plants, in order to in- 
duce blossom, the luxuriant shoots must be well ripened by 
exposure to sun and air. I placed an cjjijjhi/Uuin in the 
annual exiiibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society 
this year, which I grafted June 17, 1844; grown chiefly in 
moss, with very little soil, and watered profusely with guano 
water. It had thirteen shoots, many of extraordinary size 
and vigor. The cactus tribe will bear a larger quantity and 
stronger solution of guano, without injury, than most other 
plants ; but then the enormous shoots must be well ripened, 
or they will not produce much blossom. This, of course, is 
the case with all fruit-trees. A large, soft, spongy growth of 
unripened wood, such as I liave seen exhibited, is of no 
value whatever. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 

The experiments I have detailed in this essay were under- 
taken solely to gratify my own curiosity, and without any idea 
of being published, except, perhaps, a few results in some of 
the agricultural periodicals of the day. They are, therefore, 
neither so scientifically nor so practically complete as they 



40 

would have been, had I originally contemplated this publi- 
cation. 

During their progress, however, I have been so delighted 
with the unfailing and extraordinary luxuriance of growth 
and produce, on a miserable spot of land, induced by the 
use of this manure, and so struck with the numerous in- 
stances which have come to my knowledge of erroneous ap- 
plications of it, that, incomplete as my experiments are, I 
have thought an essay like the present, circulated in the 
cheapest possible form, containing the result of my experience 
as it is, could not fail to convey some valuable information 
to the agricultural and the horticultural public. 

My other numerous avocations prevent me from polishing 
the style, or attending minutely to the arrangement. I have 
stated it is intended merely to convey information ; and as 
such alone I trust it will be regarded. 

The quantity to be used per acre must depend both on 
the quality of the guano as respects its ammonia, and on the 
nature of the soil. On a stiff clay, guano would be of little 
value, except on the surface, or an inch or two deep, unless 
it were considerably lightened by the addition of sand, or 
well broken up by exposure, in ridges, to frost, as every clay 
soil should be. A light, porous, sandy soil would require 
three hundred pounds Peruvian, or four hundred pounds best 
Ichaboe ; and for this soil I think the Peruvian best adapted, 
as it retains the ammonia longer, and, being less soluble in 
water than the Ichaboe, its qualities are not so soon washed 
out. 

A more retentive, loamy soil would be as well affected by 
the Ichaboe, if buried at a proper depth to meet the demands 
of the roots, and to be out of the reach of a hot atmosphere. 



41 

A wet soil should be properly drained ; but, if this be not 
possible, let the guano be placed a few inches below the 
surface, so tliat the roots may come into contact with the 
solution, and afterwards find the more solid ingredients of the 
guano. 

In a soil already much enriched with manure, and at the 
same time abounding in phosphate of lime, I have found the 
guano to produce less visible effects than on a poor, sandy 
soil. 

Most excellent effects have been produced by steeping 
seeds in guano water of moderate strength for eight to 
twelve hours, dependent on the kind of seeds, and then 
planting witii one to three inches soil between the seed and 
the guano buried. The steep encourages the growth of the 
young plant, whose roots, in a more advanced stage, find the 
guano, which continues the stimulus. 

It is very difficult to give precise directions for every seed 
and every soil. My object, in this pamphlet, is to make all 
as well acquainted with the nature of this maimre, its ac- 
tion, and its effects, as myself. They can then use their own 
judgments, vvhicli, probably, in many cases, will be better than 
mine. 

I have said, above, that the quantity proper to be used de- 
pended on the quality, and that the chief test of this quality 
was the quantity of the ammonia, and, in some cases, its 
permanence. Thus, if two hundred and fifty pounds of Pe- 
ruvian guano, containing thirty-three per cent, of ammonia, 
are sufficient for an acre, then four hundred and fifty or five 
hundred pounds of guano, containing sixteen or seventeen 
per cent., would be an equivalent, yet with this difference — 
tliat the latter would leave nearly double the quantity of 
phosphates of lime, magnesia, &c., in the soil, after the crops 
4* 



42 

are taken off; and this, we shall see in the following pages, 
is not a small advantage. Yet, to obtain a luxuriant growth, 
a certain quantity of ammonia is requisite, and must be given 
by the additional weight of the latter quality. In using solu- 
tions, nearly the same remarks apply. The phosphate and 
oxalate of lime, &c., are insoluble in water ; the soda, potash, 
and ammoniacal salts, are alone dissolved. I usually put one, 
one and a half, or two, teaspoonfuls of guano, according to 
quality, in a quart bottle, shake up, and, when settled, use ; 
then refill and use two or three times, previous to putting in 
fresh guano. Or, in the large way, from fifteen to twenty 
gallons of water to one pound ; this I mix in a barrel, stir 
up, and leave it to settle, taking care, however, to put a 
cover on, that ammonia may not escape more than can be 
helped. I have always found it advantageous, with plants in 
pots, — with celery, cabbages, &c., — to stir the earth fre- 
quently on the surface, the fine particles of earth and guano 
being apt to form a cake around the plants, and prevent 
the solution from reaching the roots until a portion of its 
virtue has evaporated. 

Besides a considerable saving in labor in putting on, the 
farmer will find a great economy in the labor necessary to 
keep his land free from weeds ; for common manure is well 
known to be a most fertile source of these pests of agricul- 
ture, arising from the seeds which are thickly scattered 
through it ; whereas in guano there are none. So that those 
who are active in destroying weeds before they come to a 
mature state may, by the help of guano, be enabled to keep 
their land clear of so unsightly and unproductive a crop. 

One of the most serious objections I have heard against 
guano is, that it will exhaust the soil. I have already dis- 
cussed this question in one of the respectable agricultural 



43 

periodicals of the day, but will repeat my arguments here, 
and add a few more, all tending to show that this idea is 
erroneous. Let us take a poor, sandy soil, which naturally 
produces no crop worth taking off: with the help of guano, 
we obtain, year after year, luxuriant produce. The same 
may be done with land exhausted by cropping without ma- 
nure. Here, certainly, the doctrine of exhaustion cannot 
apply ; and yet these are the soils on which the virtues of 
guano are most eminent. Let us see how it will apply to 
better lands, where, according to some, the danger of ex- 
haustion exists. The manure for one acre of land now costs 
about twenty dollars. Guano, for the same piece, would cost 
one third of this amount, if the difference of labor in putting 
on be included, and no weeds are sown. Therefore the land 
can be manured, for three years, with guano, at the same 
expense as one year with barn-yard manure. The first year, 
t!ic produce with guano will exceed the other, in quantity and 
quality, from ten to twenty per cent. The second year, the 
difference will be greater, as the barn-yard manure will be 
partially exhausted. The third year, the ditTerence in favor 
of guano will be greater still, very little virtue being left in 
the other manure. What will be the relative state of the soils 
at the end of the three years' operation ? The great stim- 
ulant in both, ammonia, will be nearly exhausted ; the surplus 
quantity of potash and soda, left in the earth after the three 
crops, may probably be equal in both ; but of the great in- 
gredients of seed, phosphate of lime and magnesia, more than 
four times as much has been put on in the guano as in the 
other manure, and, as I have before stated, in the best possi- 
ble state of division for the use of the plants. To call these 
phosphates into action, little more is required than a sufficient 
supply of ammonia ,; and, if this be given the fourth year by 



44 

barn-yard manure, a most luxuriant crop must result, and, for 
some years, the benefit of these phosphates will be felt. It 
seems to me that this clearly disposes of the question of 
exhaustion, and that three years' use of guano will leave the 
land in a much better condition for the reception of barn- 
yard manure than ever it was before. This must be strik- 
ingly the case in a soil where the natural supply of phos- 
phates has been much diminished by constant cropping with 
corn. The reports from Scotland are, that the beneficial 
effects of one application of guano were very evident the 
third year ; and I will here introduce the following sketch 
from the Gardener's Chronicle, July 26, 1845. 

'' Penrith, Cornivall, (England,) Farmer'' s Club. 

" Mr. Silvester cut, last year, four tons per acre grass, 
on land dressed with guano, and this year, without any ad- 
ditional supply, had more grass than he ever grew before in 
any one season. 

" Mr. Tyacke had sown part of a field v/ith Peruvian 
guano, at the rate of two hundred weight (two hundred and 
twenty-four pounds) per acre, and found the wheat much 
superior ; it was sown in with the seed. He manured a field 
with four hundred and forty-eight pounds per acre, and 
thought the quality of this better. 

" Mr. N. Permewan applied it to ten acres wheat, at 
two hundred and twenty-four pounds per acre ; the result 
was astonishing. He had also applied three hundred and 
thirty-six pounds per acre to twenty acres grass ; the effect 
produced was most beneficial. He had also tried it on part 
of a field of thirteen acres turnips. Part was manured with 
farm-yard dung and earth, (mixed,) at the rate of ninety to 
one hundred loads per acre ; but a space of seven acres, in 



45 

the centre, was manured with guano, at two hundred and 
twenty-four pounds per acre. The turnips were as good on 
the guanoed piece as on the other. After the turnips, he 
sowed the whole with wheat, and no one could tell which 
gave the best crop. 

" Mr. Tyacke found the poorer the soil the better it worked. 
He sowed the guano with the seed, (wheat.) Last year he 
sowed eight acres, as follows : — 

" One third with bone-dust, at two quarters and a half per 

acre — crop fair ; one third with guano, two hundred 

and twenty-four pounds per acre — crop one third 

larger ; one third with farm-yard dung, forty loads per 

acre — crop the worst. 

This year he sowed the same piece with barley, without any 

addition. At first, the piece with farm-yard manure looked 

the best ; then that with bone manure ; now that with guano 

was better than either." 

In this last experiment, the probability, from the action, is, 
that the phosphates had become exhausted by previous crop- 
ping, and that, therefore, both the bone-dust and the guano 
produced better crops than the manure, in which the phos- 
phates are less abundant. 

Science now teaches, and teaches truly, that the atmos- 
phere yields its portion of the growth of plants, as well as 
the soil. Hence, the larger the vegetable surfaces we can 
present to the atmosphere, in the shape of luxuriant stem 
and foliage, — and this is effected by ammonia, — the more 
we shall absorb from it, and the larger will be the crops ; 
provided, however, that we do not continue to stimulate the 
growth of these surfaces longer than the season will permit 
the juices of them to become ripened by the action of sun- 



46 

light and air ; and, for this purpose, sufficient distance must 
be allowed, between luxuriant plants, for a full circulation of 
the atmosphere. On the necessity of this ripening I have 
already dwelt long enough, and will therefore merely add, 
that from errors of this nature will be found to arise most 
of the favorable circumstances engendering smut, rust, and 
all those unsightly fungous growths which destroy the beauty 
and produce of vegetation. These diseases are generally 
caused by an overabundance of the unripened juices of 
plants, which offer favorable circumstances for the vegetation 
of the seeds (spores') of fungi, which, at certain seasons, are 
always floating in the atmosphere and being deposited on the 
soil, and which attach themselves wherever there is a chance 
of their growing. This disease is seldom found in dry spots, 
where the air and sunlight circulate freely, and ripen the 
juices, unless these juices are produced in such quantity, and 
the season is so wet, that this ripening process is impossible. 

With respect to the action of guano in the southern sec- 
tions of the United States, I have no information. It is, 
however, well known that it has been very beneficial in the 
cultivation of the sugar-cane in the British West Indies ; and 
I think tobacco planters would find it of extraordinary efficacy. 

The most singular and apparently mysterious case of the 
action of guano occurred on the fajm of John L. Tucker, 
Esq., of the Tremont House. He had a piece of grass land 
which was overrun with sorrel. Thinking guano might de- 
stroy it, he mixed a quantity with dry loam, and spread it, 
this spring, over the field as a top-dressing. The result was 
a most luxuriant crop of grass, without a particle of sorrel. 
This can be well understood ; for a farmer has only to ma- 
nure highly, and the grass will soon choke off the sorrel, 
which only grows on poor soils. Having emptied his bags 



47 

of guano, after beating tliem well, they were laid down on a 
piece of pine-barren, which, as is well known, is merely a 
dry crust of moss and lichens, with here and there a few 
diminutive strings of poor sorrel creeping through. On re- 
moving these bags early in September, what was Mr. Tucker's 
astonishment at finding a thick, tangled mass of the most 
luxuriant sorrel, such as is in great request with him for the 
elegant French cookery of his house ! I have now before 
me a single turf, which he kindly sent me, two and a half 
feet long, one foot wide, one half of which is pine-barren, 
the other half this beautiful sorrel. This was a sore puzzle, 
that, in one case, as he thought, the guano should kill the 
sorrel, and in the other make it grow luxuriantly. I have 
already accounted for tlie first action of guano ; and the sec- 
ond is equally simple. On the pine-barren there was no 
grass, or any other vegetation, except the thick matting of 
moss and lichens, and the small strings of sorrel. Moss and 
lichens, when decomposed, form a good soil, and this de- 
composition is quickly efi'ected by the salts in guano. These 
are well-known facts. Here, then, is a bed of soil ready for 
vegetation. Sorrel is a plant containing a large quantity of 
oxalic acid ; and two of the ingredients in guano are ox- 
alate of ammonia and oxalate of lime. We have then a 
bed of soil, ammonia, lime, potash, soda, and oxalic acid, — 
every thing requisite to make sorrel grow, and no grass to 
choke it off by rank luxuriance. These circumstances are 
surely sufficient to account for the growth in question, and 
to reconcile this seeming contradiction. 

Since many of the foregoing remarks were written, I have 
received so much unsouglit, yet concurrent testimony respect- 
ing the improved flavor of many vegetables, but particularly 



of sweet corn, grown with guano, that I can no longer con- 
sider it possible for my imagination or my bias to have led 
my judgment astray on this point. If true to the extent 
which I suspect, tlie importance of the subject, both as re- 
gards fruit as well as vegetables, is great indeed, and well 
merits careful and extensive parallel experiments. These my 
other duties will not permit me to pursue, but I trust many 
will be found both able and willing to undertake them. My 
opinion, as I have before stated, is, that the presentation to 
the roots, in abundance and together, of all the ingredients 
necessary for the most luxuriant growth of every part of the 
plant, including the seed, as is the case with guano, must 
also produce the luxuriance of the coverings, or the receptacles 
of the seed ; these, in a horticultural sense, mean the fruit. 
This has been verified, in an instance related to me this year, 
with the seckel pear, which had always previously borne fruit 
of a very small size. This year guano was liberally applied 
to the tree ; the fruit has been uncommonly abundant, and 
of an extraordinary size. Of the flavor I cannot speak, not 
having tasted it. Mr. Tucker has also found the same result 
with the Baldwin apple, as compared with adjoining trees not 
guanoed. 

Our evidences as to the ingredients of the guano entering 
the juices and seeds of the plants, though not numerous, are 
simple and incontrovertible, and therefore of great weight. 
Mr. A. A. Hayes, of Roxbury, found about thirty per cent, 
more phosphoric acid in the guanoed than in unguanoed 
sweet corn, calculated from the quantities of glacial phos- 
phoric acid obtained by the incineration of six hundred 
grains of each ; and, had this able chemist also searched for 
the magnesia, he would, in my opinion, have found, at least, 



49 

an equal increase in that ingredient. The following instance 
will support this idea. 

In the Annales de Chimie, there is an account of some ex- 
periments on fuchsia fulgens, with guano, by Dr. A. Vogel. 
He found that the plants with guano were in full bloom, 
while those without were only in bud. The two plants were 
burned to ashes. 

100 parts, by weight, of the guanoed plant, gave 6.2 ashes. 
« <' " " " not guanoed " " 7.3 " 
These ashes consisted chiefly of carbonated alkalies, muriate 
of soda, sulphate of potash, and some phosphates. 

The difference of the phosphates in the two is only 0.2 
per cent. The guanoed ashes contained 25 per cent, car- 
bonate lime, and 27.1 carbonate magnesia ; the ashes not 
guanoed contained 40.2 per cent, carbonate lime, and 23.7 
carbonate magnesia ; showing that there was 3.4 more mag- 
nesia in the guanoed ashes than in those not guanoed. 

Although this seems decisive with regard to magnesia, the 
experiment proves nothing respecting the seed, which may 
be one of those not intended for animal nutrition, and, con- 
sequently, in which phosphate of lime may not be requisite. 
In making experiments with the ashes of the plants them- 
selves, and not with the ashes of the seed alone, it may be 
considered, however, that the necessary ingredients pass 
through the plant in their way to the seed. 

The connection of these observations with flavor is, simply, 
that the phosphates certainly, and probably magnesia also, 
being necessary to the formation of flesh and blood, it is no 
great stretch of the imagination to suppose Providence to 
have ordered that these ingredients, in abundance, should 
produce a more grateful flavor than in smaller quantity. 

The practical application of these facts is, that, in the 
5 



50 

cultivation of fruits, and all esculent vegetables, particularly 
those designed for animal nutrition, the guano in a solid 
state should be used, and not a mere solution ; for the phos- 
phates of lime and magnesia are insoluble in water, but are 
taken up by the roots, and are probably the cause of the im- 
provement of the flavor ; whereas, for ornamental flowers, 
where seed is not required, and a fine growth of foliage is 
desirable, the solution is preferable. 

It is very often the case that large fruits have not the fine 
flavor they have when grown small ; in other words, that 
flavor is often sacrificed to size. If this could be avoided by 
the use of guano, and large size accompany improved flavor, 
it would be of great importance to the fruit and vegetable 
grower and eater. 



51 



v^ompiled from Wilmer and Smith's European Times, July 26, 1845. 



Import, Stock, and Consumption, of Guano in Great Britain 
since its first Introduction, in 1841. 



1841, . 
1842, . 
1843, . 



Imports. Consump. 

Tons. Tons. 

Peruvian, 1,880 .... 500 

. . " 10,870 . . . 2,000 

. . " 2,2:30 . . . 5,500 



1844, " 3,470 . . . 10,450 



18,450 

From 1st July, 1844, C Peruvian, . 27,690 
to 1st July, 1845, C African, . 245,510 



Supply total, 291,050 

Consumption, 150,100 



18,450 
. 13,240 
124,410 

150,100 



Stock, 1st July, 1845, 



13 



j,iyo 







Stock. 
Tons. 

1,380 

10,250 
0,980 



14,450 
121,100 



Consumption in Great Britain, from 1st July, 1844, to 1st July, 
1845, 135,550 tons. 

Value, at £6h average per ton, i:8Sl,075, or $4,291,100 

And the stock on hand, 140,900 tons, $4,368,000 



Aggregate expended for one species of manure, . . . $8,059,160 



// 



